Synthesis and characterization of some new Co(II) and Cd(II) macroacyclic Schiff-base complexes containing piperazine moiety

Three Cd(II) or Co(II) macroacyclic Schiff-base complexes [CoL¹Br]ClO₄ (1), [CdL²Cl]ClO₄ (2) and [CdL³(NO₃)]ClO₄ (3) were prepared by template condensation of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and three different amines containing piperazine moiety, N,N′-bis(2-aminoethyl)piperazine, N,N′(2-aminoethyl)(3-aminopropyl)piperazine and N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)piperazine, in the presence of Co(II) or Cd(II) metal ions, respectively. All complexes have been studied with IR, FAB mass and microanalysis and for complex (3) by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. One of these complexes, [CdL³(NO₃)]ClO₄ (3) has been characterized through X-ray crystallography. In complex (3), the Cd(II) ion is coordinated by the six nitrogen donor atoms from the ligand and by one oxygen atom from a monodentate nitrate ion in a N₆O environment.     

Structural characterization of a copper(II) complex containing oxidative cyclization of N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea,new ligands of 4-picolylthiourea derivatives and the precursor molecular structure of oxidative cyclization of N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea

Three new compounds of aryl thiourea derivatives, namely N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea (L1), N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea (L2) and N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-(4-nitrophenyl)thiourea (L3), and the new copper(II) complex [Cu(4PicTz4OMePh)(OAC)(EtOH)] (C1), as a result of oxidative cyclization of the ligand (L1), were synthesized. In addition, pure precursor (P1), as the product of the oxidative cyclization of N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea (L4), was isolated and characterized. Ligands (L1) and (L2) were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and single crystal X-ray analysis. ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed strong hydrogen bonding interactions between N′H-functionalities and the pyridine nitrogen atoms as well as weak intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the thione sulfur and the NH hydrogen. Structural studies of complex (C1) showed that the copper ion is five-coordinated with a square-pyramidal environment. The oxidative cyclization of ligand (L1) results in an anionic bidentate ligand in complex (C1). Both ligand (L1) and precursor (P1) crystallize as centrosymmetric dimers.     

Reaction of chlorodithiophosphoric acid pyridiniumbetaine with adamantane derivatives containing amino group

Reactions of chlorodithiophosphoric acid pyridiniumbetaine, py.PS₂Cl (I) with 1-aminoadamantane (amantadine, Am) and 1-amino-3,5-dimethyladamantane (memantine, Mem), 1-(adamant-1-yl)ethylamine (rimantadine, Rim), and 1-aminomethyladamantane (amAd) were studied. New compounds – N,N′,N′′,N′′′-tetrakis(adamant-1-yl)trithiophosphoric acic tetraamide (II), N,N′,N′′,N′′′-tetrakis(3,5-dimethyladamant-1-yl)trithiophosphoric acid tetraamide (III), chlorodithiophosphoric acid 1-(adamant-1-yl)ethylamide pyridiniumbetaine (IV), pyridinium salt of 1,3-bis(adamant-1-yl)ethane-2,4-mercapto-2,4-dithioxo-1,3-diaza-2λ⁵,4λ⁵-diphosphetidine (V), N,N′,N′′,N′′′-tetrakis(adamant-1-ylmethyl)trithiophosphoric acid tetraamide (VI), and pyridinium salt of 1,2-bis(adamant-1-ylmethane)-4-mercapto-2,4-dithioxo-1-aza-3-thia-2λ⁵,4λ⁵-diphosphetidine (VII) – were prepared and characterized either/or by ³¹P NMR and infrared spectroscopy, the substances II a IV by X-ray diffraction analysis, III, V, VI, VII by MALDI TOF MS.     

A general and efficient synthesis of 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A convenient and efficient synthesis of N⁶-substituted 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes (6a-c) has been achieved starting from suitably substituted lactams, which were converted to nitroenamines followed by reductive cyclization to afford 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-ones in good yields. These bicyclic lactams were then reduced to the corresponding 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes and converted to the required N³,N⁶-disubstituted 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes (7a-h), which were screened for α₁-adrenoceptors antagonistic activities.     

Polar [4+2+] diels-alder cycloaddition to nitrilium and immonium ions in the gas phase: Applications of multiple stage mass spectrometry in a pentaquadrupole instrument

Multiple stage MS² and MS³ mass spectrometric experiments, performed using a pentaquadrupole instrument, are employed to explore the gas-phase ion-molecule chemistry of several nitrilium [R-C≡N⁺-H (1), R-C≡N⁺-CH₃ (2), and H-C≡N⁺-C₂H₅ (3)] as well as immonium ions RR¹C=N⁺R²R³ (4) with the neutral diene isoprene. Polar [4+2⁺] Diels-Alder cycloaddition is observed for nitrilium ions when the energy gap between the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the ion and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the isoprene is small and the competing proton transfer reaction is endothermic. Thus, C-protonated methyl isonitrile H-C≡N⁺-CH₃ (2a) and its higher homolog H-C≡N⁺-C₂H₅ (3a) form abundant [4+2⁺] cycloadducts with isoprene, but several protonated nitriles 1 do not; instead they show exothermic proton transfer as the main ion-molecule reaction. Replacement of the methyne hydrogen in 2a by a methyl, ethyl, or phenyl group (2b–d) raises the LUMO-HOMO gap, which greatly decreases the total yield of ion-molecule products and precludes cycloaddition. On the other hand, the electron-withdrawing acetyl and bromine substituents in 2e and 2f substantially lower the LUMO energy of the ions and cycloaddition reaction occurs readily. The simplest member of the immonium ion series, CH₂=NH ₂ ⁺ (4a), reacts readily by cycloaddition, whereas alkyl substitution on either the carbon or nitrogen (4b–f) dramatically lowers the overall reactivity, which substantially decreases or even precludes cycloaddition. In strong contrast, the N-phenyl (4g) and N-acetyl (4h) ions and the N-vinyl-substituted immonium ion, N-protonated 2-aza-butadiene (4i), react extensively with isoprene, mainly by [4+2⁺] cycloaddition. However, the isomeric C-vinyl-substituted ion (4j) displays only modest reactivity in both the proton-transfer and the cycloaddition channels. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the cycloadducts performed by on-line MS³ experiments demonstrates that they are covalently bound and supports their assignments as cycloaddition products. Retro Diels-Alder fragmentation is a major process for cycloadducts of both the immonium and the nitrilium ions, but other fragmentation processes also are observed. The cycloadduct of 4a with butadiene displays CID fragmentation identical to that of the authentic ion produced by protonation of 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, which thus strengthens the [4+2⁺] cycloaddition proposal. AM1 calculations also support the formation of the [4+2⁺] cycloadducts, which are shown in several cases to be much more stable than the products of simple addition, that is, the ring-open isomers.     

Electronic tuning of the PNNP ligand for the asymmetric cyclopropanation of olefins catalysed by [RuCl(PNNP)]+

Cationic ruthenium complexes of the type [RuCl(L)(PNNP)]⁺ (L=OEt₂, OH₂), where PNNP is the CF₃-subsituted PNNP ligand N,N′-bis[o-(bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)phosphino)benzylidene]-(1S,2S)-diaminocyclohexane 1b, catalyse the asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene, α-Me-styrene, and 1-octene with ethyl diazoacetate. These complexes are more active and give higher cis- and enantioselectivities than their analogues containing the unsubstituted ligand 1a. Thus, [RuCl(OEt₂)(1b)]PF₆ cyclopropanates α-Me-styrene with 85% cis selectivity and 86% ee in 94% isolated yield.     

Synthesis,structure, and electrochemistry of pyridinecarboxamide cobalt(III) complexes; the effect of bridge substituents on the redox properties

Two series of complexes of the types trans-[Co^III(Mebpb)(amine)₂]ClO₄ {Mebpb²⁻ = N,N-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)-4-methylbenzene dianion, and amine = pyrrolidine (prldn) (1a), piperidine (pprdn) (2a), morpholine (mrpln) (3a), benzylamine (bzlan) (4a)}, and trans-[Co^III(cbpb)(amine)₂]X {cbpb²⁻ = N,N-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)-4-chlorobenzene dianion, and amine = pyrrolidine (prldn), X = PF₆ (1b), piperidine (pprdn), X = PF₆ (2b), morpholine (mrpln), X = ClO₄ (3b), benzylamine (bzlan), X = PF₆ (4b)} have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of 1a has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical behavior of these complexes, with the goal of evaluating the effect of axial ligation and equatorial substitution on the redox properties, is also reported. The reduction potential of Co^III, ranging from −0.53 V for (1a) to −0.31 V for (3a) and from −0.48 V for (1b) to −0.22 V for (3b) show a relatively good correlation with the σ-donor ability of the axial ligands. The methyl and chloro substituents of the equatorial ligand have a considerable effect on the redox potentials of the central cobalt ion and the ligand-centered redox processes.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of η-allyl(α-diimine)nickel(II) complexes bearing trimethylsilyl groups

A set of isomeric para- and meta-trimethylsilylphenyl ortho-substituted N,N-phenyl α-diimine ligands [(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar) Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (16); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (17)] have been synthesized through a two-step procedure. The palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction between 2,6-dibromophenylamine (7) and 4-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (8), 3-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (9) was used to prepare 4,4^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (10) and 3,3^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (11). The di-1-adamantylphosphine oxide Ad₂P(O)H (13) and di-tert-butyl-trimethylsilylanylmethylphosphine tert-Bu₂P-CH₂-SiMe₃ (14) were used for the first time as ligands for the Suzuki coupling. The condensation of 2,2,3,3-tetramethoxybutane (15) with anilines 10 and 11 afforded α-diimines 16 and 17. The reaction of π-allylnickel chloride dimer (18), α-diimines (16), (17) and sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (BAF) (19) or silver hexafluoroantimonate (20) led to two sets of isomeric complexes [η³-allyl(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar)Ni]⁺ X⁻, [Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (3), X=SbF₆ (4); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (5), X=SbF₆ (6)]. The steric repulsion of closely positioned trimethylsilyl groups in 4 caused the distortion of the nickel square planar coordination by 17.6° according to X-ray analysis.     

Novel hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate ruthenium(II) complexes containing the water-soluble phosphane 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane: Synthesis and evaluation of DNA binding properties

A series of half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes containing κ³(N,N,N)-hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate (κ³(N,N,N)-Tp) and the water-soluble phosphane 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) [RuX{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)_2−n(PTA)_n] (n = 2, X = Cl (1), n = 1, X = Cl (2), I (3), NCS (4), H (5)) and [Ru{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(PTA)L][PF₆] (L = NCMe (6), PTA (7)) have been synthesized. Complexes containing 1-methyl-3,5-diaza-1-azonia-7-phosphaadamantane(m-PTA) triflate [RuCl{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(m-PTA)₂][CF₃SO₃]₂ (8) and [RuX{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(m-PTA)][CF₃SO₃] (X = Cl (9), H (10)) have been obtained by treatment, respectively, of complexes 1, 2 and 5 with methyl triflate. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for complexes 1, 2 and 4 have been carried out. DNA binding properties by using a mobility shift assay and antimicrobial activity of selected complexes have been evaluated.     

Preparation and spectra of mercuribis (α-diazo ketones)

Bis (α - diazophenacyl) mercury (2a), bis (α - diazo - 2,4,6 - trimethylphenacyl) mercury (2b), bis (1 - diazo - 3,3 - dimethyl - 2 - oxobutyl)mercury (2c), and bis (1 - diazo - 2 - phenylacetonyl) mercury (2d) have been prepared by treatment of the corresponding α-diazo ketones with mercuric oxide. The solution IR, UV, and ¹H NMR spectra of 2a–d and of three other mercuribis (α-diazo ketones) have been compared with the spectra of the corresponding α-diazo ketones, and the similarities between these have led to the conclusion that in solution these mercury derivatives exist with the mercury bonded to carbon. The ¹³C NMR resonance spectra of 2a and of α-diazo - α - methylmercuriacetophenone (9) have been examined for evidence of ¹⁹⁹HgC coupling; this was observed in the case of 9 for the Me carbon, but not detected in either case for the diazo carbon; this is attributed to difficulty of detection and/or ligand exchange. The signals of the diazo carbon in these spectra occur at unusually high field; a similar observation was made in the spectra of several α-diazo ketones, where the chemical shifts were in the range δ 50–70.     

New bicyclic organylboronic esters derived from iminodiacetic acids

The reactions of phenylboronic acid or dinethylthexyboronic ester with iminodiacetic- or N-methyliminodiacetic acids lead to high yield to the air-stable bicyclic esters (N-B)phenyl[iminodiacete-O,N]borane (1), (N-B)phenyl[N-methyliminodiacetate-O,N]borane (2), (N-B)thexy[iminodiacetate[O,N]borane (3) and (N-B)thexyl[N-methyliminodiacetate-O,N]borane (4). These are shown by ¹H, ¹¹B and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to have rigid bicyclic structures of strong intramolecular N-B coordination.     

Studies in the syntheses of sesquiterpene lactones—II : Chemical transformation of α-santonin into reynosin,santamarine, epoxysantamarine and 1β-hydroxyarbusculin A

Eudesmane type α-methylene-γ-lactones, reynosin (1), santamarine (2), epoxysantamarine (3) and 1β-hydroxyarbusculin A (4) have been synthesized from α-santonin.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and antibacterial activity of a group of mononuclear manganese(II) Schiff base complexes

Five mononuclear complexes of manganese(II) of a group of the general formula, [MnL(NCS)₂] where the Schiff base L = N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (L¹), (1); N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)benzylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (L²), (2); N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)methylidene]propane-1,2-diamine (L³), (3); N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene]propane-1,2-diamine (L⁴), (4) and N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)benzylidene]propane-1,2-diamine (L⁵), (5) have been prepared. The syntheses have been achieved by reacting manganese chloride with the corresponding tetradentate Schiff bases in presence of thiocyanate in the molar ratio of 1:1:2. The complexes have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and other physicochemical studies, including crystal structure determination of 1, 2 and 4. Structural studies reveal that the complexes 1, 2 and 4 adopt highly distorted octahedral geometry. The antibacterial activity of all the complexes and their respective Schiff bases has been tested against Gram(+) and Gram(−) bacteria.     

Microwave-promoted synthesis of new optically active poly(ester-imide)s derived from N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-leucine diacid chloride and aromatic diols

Pyromellitic dianhydride (benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride) (1) was reacted with l-leucine (2) in a mixture of acetic acid and pyridine (3:2) and the resulting imide-acid [N,N^′-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-leucine diacid] (4) was obtained in quantitative yield. The compound (4) was converted to the N,N^′-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-leucine diacid chloride (5) by reaction with thionyl chloride. A new facile and rapid polycondensation reaction of this diacid chloride (5) with several aromatic diols such as phenol phthalein (6a), bisphenol-A (6b), 4,4^′-hydroquinone (6c), 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (6d), 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene (6e), 4,4-dihydroxy biphenyl (6f), and 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone (6g) was developed by using a domestic microwave oven in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium such as o-cresol. The polymerization reactions proceeded rapidly and are completed within 10 min, producing a series of optically active poly(ester-imide)s (PEIs) with good yield and moderate inherent viscosity of 0.10-0.27 dl/g. All of the above polymers were fully characterized by IR, elemental analyses and specific rotation. Some structural characterization and physical properties of these optically active PEIs are reported.     

Cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes with chiral pyrazolylquinoline,a derivative of terpenoid (+)-3-carene. Catalytic activity in ethylene polymerization reaction

Coordination compounds [CoLCl₂] (I), [CuLCl(NO₃)] (II), CuL(NO₃)₂ (III), and CuLCl₂ (IV) (where L is a chiral pyrazolylquinoline—a derivative of terpenoid (+)-3-carene) were synthesized. X-ray diffraction data showed that crystal structures I and II are built of mononuclear acentric molecules. In the molecule of complex I, the Co₂₊ ion coordinates two N atoms of bidentate cycle-forming ligand L and two Cl atoms. The coordination polyhedron of Cl₂N₂ is a distorted tetrahedron. For complex I, μ_eff = 4.50 μ_B, which corresponds to a high-spin configuration d ⁷. In the molecules of II(1), II(2) (which are diastereoisomers of complex II), each Cu²⁺ ion coordinates two N atoms of bidentate cycle-forming ligand L, the Cl atom, and two O atoms of bidentate cyclic NO ₃ ^? ion. The ClN₂O₂ coordination polyhedra are tetragonal pyramids with different degrees of distortion. The structure of complex II consists of supramolecular clusters, i.e., isolated chains incorporating the molecules of II(1) and II(2). The values of μ_eff for II–IV correspond to the d ⁹ configuration. The results of EPR and IR study suggest that complex III contains the O₄N₂ polyhedron, whereas complex IV contains the Cl₂N₂ polyhedron. Complexes I and IV were found to show a high catalytic activity in ethylene polymerization reaction.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of iron(II) complex with tetradentate nitrogen ligands under conditions of atom transfer radical polymerization

Four tetradentate nitrogen ligands, viz. dichloro{[N,N^′-diphenyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (1), {[N,N^′-dioctyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (2), {[N,N^′-dibenzyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (3), and (1R,2R)-(−)-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl) di-iminocyclohexane (4), were investigated as novel complexing ligands in iron-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate where ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate was the initiator in o-xylene at 90 °C. With ligands 1 and 2 the experimental molecular weights increased gradually with monomer conversion. High to moderate conversions (87%, 43%) were obtained in relatively short times (90 min for 1 and 30 min for 2), which indicates an efficient catalyst system, but after these times a dramatic increase in viscosity of the polymerization medium led to loss of control. It is noteworthy that polymerization proceeded in a controlled manner with ligand 1, which has two rather bulky substituents on the N-atom. Such bulky ligands did not work for a copper-based system, where they led to excessive terminations or other side reactions. When the bulkiness of the substituents was significantly increased, as in ligand 3, a decrease in polymerization rate and loss of control occurred. Ligand 4 was less efficient than the other ligands, probably because the ethylene bridge was replaced by cyclohexane bridge.     

Copper(II) complexes of N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde: Crystal structure of a binuclear complex

Ten copper(II) complexes {[CuL¹Cl] (1), [CuL¹NO₃]₂ (2), [CuL¹N₃]₂ · 2/3H₂O (3), [CuL¹]₂(ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (4), [CuL²Cl]₂ (5), [CuL²N₃] (6), [Cu(HL²)SO₄]₂ · 4H₂O (7), [Cu(HL²)₂] (ClO₄)₂ · 1/2EtOH (8), [CuL³Cl]₂ (9), [CuL³NCS] · 1/2H₂O (10)} of three NNS donor thiosemicarbazone ligands {pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-p-methoxyphenyl thiosemicarbazone [HL¹], pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-2-phenethyl thiosemicarbazone [HL²] and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde N(4)-(methyl), N(4)-(phenyl) thiosemicarbazone [HL³]} were synthesized and physico-chemically characterized. The crystal structure of compound 9 has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies and is found that the dimer consists of two square pyramidal Cu(II) centers linked by two chlorine atoms.     

Coordination chemistry of a new imine-ether ligand,N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethylene)-2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine): mono-helical and single-helical-strand coordination modes identified by X-ray crystallography

A new Schiff base ligand, N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethylene)-2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine), L, and the complexes, [AgL](BF₄) (1), [Zn₂LCl₄] (2), [Hg₂LCl₄] (3), [Cd₂LI₄] (4), [Ni₂L₃](BF₄)₄ (5), and [M₂L₃](ClO₄)₄ with M=Co(II) (6) Fe(II) (7) and Zn(II) (8), have been synthesised and characterised crystallographically and spectroscopically. The silver(I) complex 1 consists of a mono-helical structure where one ligand molecule, coordinating in a tetradentate manner, wraps itself around the Ag(I) ion, giving rise to a distorted tetrahedral arrangement. Single-helical-strand binuclear complexes were obtained with zinc(II), mercury(II) and cadmium(II), 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 are isomorphous and both contain one ligand molecule coordinating to two metal atoms via the two pyridylimine N-atoms. The two remaining coordination sites on the metals are occupied by chlorine atoms. In the fivefold coordinate cadmium(II) complex, 4, the ligand coordinates in a bis-tridentate manner via the two pyridylimine units and the two oxygen atoms. The two remaining coordination sites on the metals are occupied by iodine atoms. It was possible to combine both coordination modes of the ligand, mono-helical and single-helical-strand, in the isomorphous binuclear octahedrally coordinated nickel(II), cobalt(II), iron(II) and zinc(II) complexes, 5–8, respectively. One ligand molecule is wrapped around each metal ion, which in turn are linked by a third ligand molecule, so forming mono-bridged species.     

Copper(II) α-hydroxycarboxylate complexes of bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)amine ligand: From mononuclear complex to one-dimensional coordination polymer

The coordination geometry and supramolecular structures of three copper(II) complexes of two α-hydroxycarboxylates and one α-methoxycarboxylate with nitrogen donor co-ligands are discussed. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, ESI-MS, IR and electronic spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and magnetic measurements. The X-ray structure analysis of all the complexes, namely [(BPCA)Cu^II(MA)] (1), [(BPCA)Cu^II(MPA)(H₂O)] (2) and [(BPCA)Cu^II(BA)]_n (3), where BPCA = bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)amidate, MA = racemic mandelate, MPA = racemic α-methoxy phenylacetate and BA = benzilate anion, shows the copper(II) ion in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. In 1 the mandelate anion is coordinated to the copper(II) center in a bidentate fashion while in 2 the α-methoxycarboxylate is monodentate. In both cases a one-dimensional supramolecular array is formed through hydrogen bonds: the mononuclear units are directly connected in 1 by the MA hydroxyl group, whereas in 2 is the coordinated water that operates as H donor towards the MPA carboxylate group and the BPCA carbonyl oxygens of nearby complexes. In 3 the benzilate anion, acting as bridging ligand between copper ions, gives rise to a one-dimensional coordination polymer. In the latter, intra- and inter-chain π?π stacking interactions between pyridines and one phenyl ring of benzilate anions are observed in the packing.     

A short and efficient synthesis of N-aryl- and N-heteroaryl-N-(arylalkyl)piperazines

A new synthesis of N-aryl- and N-heteroaryl-N^′-(arylalkyl)piperazines using palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl bromides and heteroaryl chlorides with mono N-benzyl- or N-(arylethyl)piperazines is reported. Most coupling processes proceed in high yield and good selectivity using either diadamantyl-n-butylphosphine (1), 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-2^′-(N,N-dimethylamino)biphenyl (2), or 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl (3) as ligand. Applying an automated parallel synthesizer the preparation of a small library of potentially bioactive compounds is easily achieved.